Click Here to Download the NEW CONNECTION APPLICATION FORM

Step by Step Guide

Changing from Credit to Prepaid Meter

1. Visit one of our Customer Service Centres and fill in a blue application form.

2. Note: Your account needs to be up to date before making an application Your completed application will be captured, referenced and forwarded to the relevant department for technical analysis and costing.

3. Once completed, a pro-forma invoice detailing the costs, installation specifications and a metercard will be posted to you.

4. Note: Refer to eThekwini Electricity's Schedule of Connection Fees and Charges for estimated connection costs (Tariff Brochure).

5. Once payment has been received, your application will be confirmed.

6. You are also required to submit your completed meter card for your connection request to be processed.

7. Note: The deposit from your Credit meter account cannot be transferred as payment for a change over connection fee.

8. TIME FRAMES FOR CONNECTIONS: The time frames for connections will be dependent on the availability of the meters (6-8 Weeks).

MANDATORY DOCUMENTATION / REQUIREMENTS:

• I.D document of applicant
• Proof of ownership
• Authority from landlord - proxy letter, I.D copy & I.D copy of the landlord
• Registered contractor details

Credit Meter

1. Visit one of our Customer Services Centres and fill in a white application form. Note: You may need to consult with your electrician for the required technical details in the form
2. Your completed application will be captured, referenced and forwarded to the relevant department for technical analysis and costing. Once completed, a pro-forma invoice detailing the costs, installation specifications and a meter card will be posted to you. Note: Refer to eThekwini Electricity's schedule of connection fees and charges for estimated connection costs.
3. Once payment has been received in accordance with your invoice, your application will be confirmed. You are also required to submit your completed meter card for your connection request to be processed. Note: Your electrician will need to carry out the electrical connections from your distribution board to the meter point and provide the necessary certification for the work done. Our depot will only commence work once a completed meter card has been received.
4. Once the meter has been installed, the customer must hand in a copy of the signed certificate of compliance within 48hrs. The application number needs to be indicated on the front right hand corner of the certificate.
5. Prior to any consumption of electricity on site, the customer must open an account and pay a deposit equivalent to 2 months consumption charges. An account can be opened at any Electricity Customer Service Centre.

Timeframes for Connections

The timeframes for connections will vary depending on the availability of power in the relevant area.

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS 

• ID document of applicant
• Proof of ownership
• Authority from landlord
• Approved building plan showing preferred meter location
• Registered contractor’s details

New Prepayment Meter

1. Visit one of our Customer Service Centres and fill in a blue application form. Note: You may need to consult with your electrician for the required technical details in the form.

2. Your completed application will be captured, referenced and forwarded to the relevant department for technical analysis and costing. Once completed, a pro-forma invoice detailing the costs, installation specifications and a meter card will be posted to you.

3. Once payment has been received in accordance with your invoice, your application will be confirmed. You are also required to submit your completed meter card for your connection request to be processed. It is mandatory to open an account with a refundable deposit of R100.00 Note: Your electrician will need to carry out the electrical connections from your distribution board to the meter point and provide the necessary certification for the work done. Our depot will only commence work once a completed meter card has been received. The above is not applicable to subsidized customers supplied with a ready-board.

4. Once the meter has been installed, the customer must hand in a copy of the signed Certificate of Compliance within 48hrs. The application number needs to be indicated on the front right hand corner of the certificate. A Certificate of Compliance is supplied with a ready-board for subsidized connections

5. Prior to any consumption of electricity on site, the customer must activate their meter card by visiting one of our Customer Service Centres and purchase prepaid electricity. Note: The customer is liable for any damages to the meter

6. Our normal time frame for connection is between 6 to 8 weeks depending on network extensions that may be required. 

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS 

• ID document of applicant
• Proof of ownership
• Authority from landlord
• Approved building plan showing preferred meter location
• Registered contractor details

ACCOUNT PAYMENT METHODS 

The following methods of payment are available: 

• Direct Debits - The simplest and safest method
• In Person - At any authorized eThekwini account vendor
• Electronic Transfer
• A list of payment methods and pay points is printed on the reverse side of all accounts. Please note that there are occasionally delays in advice of payment reaching us when accounts are paid at 3rd Party Collecting Agents. Customers are to ensure that payment is made before the due date to avoid arrears on the account and unnecessary disconnections.

Load Shedding Frequently Asked Questions 

General Comment 
Load-shedding is the last resort in several steps taken to prevent a total grid collapse and a national blackout. Hence, it is an emergency response to an emergency, where all other measures have failed, this only becomes evident shortly before emergency load-shedding is declared.

Question 1

Why am I affected when I know of other areas which have not experienced load shedding?
There are some critical loads that the city needs to keep on. If you fall within that block you benefit from not being shut off. Everybody needs to share in load shedding to prevent grid collapse and there is national legislation governing the load shedding to ensure that it is done fairly and equitably. 

Question 2.
How do I know which Block I am in?
Above you will find the load shedding schedule and our suburb list where you will find your relevant block. Should you wish to print or view your individual block schedule, use the interactive map, fill in the address field and you’re your individual block schedule will come up. There may be some discrepancies and you are advised to adopt the block you are initially shut off in. 

Question 3.

Why has my block changed?

The electricity control room monitors the grid 24/7 and as faults occur, affected substation gets isolated from the grid and customers get fed from alternative substations which may be in another block. This is to minimize the duration of outages to our customers. You will be eventually returned to your original block once the fault has been repaired. However, this may take days or even weeks. 

Question 4.
What does Stage1, Stage2 and Stage 3 mean?
Eskom has developed a hierarchy of emergency conditions each requiring a specific load reduction stipulated below. Depending on the severity of the supply constraint, Eskom would declare a Stage 1, 2, 3 up to 8 Emergency to prevent a national blackout.

Stage 1 - National shortage of 1000MW

Stage 2 - National shortage of 2000 MW

Stage 3 - National shortage of 3000 MW

Stage 4 - National shortage of 4000 MW

Stage 5- National Shortage of 5000 MW

Stage 6- National Shortage of 6000 MW

Stage 7- National Shortage of 7000 MW

Stage 8- National Shortage of 8000 MW

Please note that largely industrial areas from block 17 to 20 will be shed from stage 7 upwards.

Question 5.
Why not load shed at night?
Load shedding must take place immediately the load is predicted to exceed generation capacity. The load normally exceeds generation capacity during the day when businesses are using electricity and in the early morning and evening when most households are using electricity. Late at night and on weekends when there is low load, there is a less likelihood of the load exceeding generation capacity and hence a less likelihood of load shedding being required.

Load shedding becomes necessary at night and on weekends to conserve fuel and water pump storage for high demand weekday periods. 

Question 6.
Why does the schedule provide for 2 hours for each block
The principle of 2-hour blocks is to minimize the inconvenience to our residential and commercial customers. Geysers and fridges normally retain their temperature over the two hour period.

Question 7
How long can my freezer stay off before the quality of the food deteriorates?
This cannot be answered directly as it depends on the working temperature of the freezer and the effectiveness of the seals. It is, however, strongly advised to limit opening the freezer and fridge compartments during an interruption of supply, as this will have a significant affect.

Question 8
Should I switch off appliances during load shedding?
Ensuring that appliances are switched off during any interruption of supply is advisable, simply because this ensures that they will not turn on when the supply is restored and create an unsafe situation. This also assists the restoration of supply process, as it will avoid high ‘waiting loads’ with the potential to cause an overload trip of an individual circuit. This would require staff to be dispatched to the point of supply and therefore result in an extended interruption.

Question 9

Will eThekwini Municipality compensate me for losses?
Losses incurred by customers due to planned and unplanned outages are not covered by the municipality’s insurance.

Question 10
How do I Save Electricity?

Energy Saving Tips

• General: Switch off appliances at plug points when not in use. Appliances on standby still consume the most power. 
• Kettle: Only boil the amount water needed. E.g 250ml for one cup of tea.
• Lights: LED LIGHTS ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT OPTION SO CUSTOMERS ARE ADVISED TO CHANGE TO LED LIGHTING. 
• Geyser: Geyser settings should be set at 55 degrees Celsius and you can save up to 40% on your electricity bill by using heat pump or a solar water geyser. It is also advisable to use a low flow showerhead which will reduce the amount of water being consumed. Therefore, there will be less water heated for your shower. 
• Stove: Your pots should be the same or larger than your stove plate to ensure that all the heat generated heats up your pot. You can turn off your plates before the food is completely cooked leaving it up to latent heat to finish off your dish. 
• Refrigerator: Seals on your fridge should be in good condition to prevent leakage of cold air which will cause the motor to run continuously. 

Home tips on surviving load shedding:

• Ensure your cellphone is always fully charged,
• Ensure you have adequate cash at hand as ATM’s will not work,
• Keep temporary lighting, such as candles and electric torches readily available,
• Boil water and keep in hot water flasks for hot drinks for when the power is scheduled to be off,
• Prepare meals in advance,
• Keep refrigerator doors closed, as a power outage of up to four hours should not cause food spoilage and a freezer should keep frozen food safe for at least a day. 
• Switch off all high load appliances- - pool pumps, geyser, etc, to prevent waiting load when supply returns. 

The application process has been designed as such so that we may engage and exchange the relevant information pertaining to the connection of your generation system to the grid. The process is primarily administered via electronic documents for your convenience. For further guidelines on the application process, please click here. 
 

The residential embedded generator applicant shall follow the necessary steps as detailed below:

Step 1 

You will require a computer and an internet connection to gain access to the relevant online application forms. Download and read through the guideline document for residential embedded generation. You may access this document [here]. 

Step 2

Download the “APPLICATION FOR CONNECTION OF EMBEDDED GENERATION” form from [here​].  
 

The successful completion and submission of this form will initiate your application process

Step 3 

The purpose of this form is to formally request for the connection of your SSEG system to the grid, bi-directional metering and a tariff change to the embedded generation tariff structure (Scale 15). Three requests are captured via this application.  The capturing of this form onto our system will generate a unique reference number, i.e. an “E” number. This will be used to track your application throughout the process. Upon capturing your form, this reference number will be forwarded to you. 

Forms should be completed in full and signed prior to submission

Step 4

Email forms to residentialgeneration@elec.durban.gov.za together with all supporting documentation and attachments as specified in the application form. Do not submit incomplete application forms or application forms that have not been signed. Do not submit unnecessary data sheets and generic product information. Make sure all the RELEVANT supporting documents are submitted

Step 5

EThekwini Electricity’s Planning Department shall perform a desktop network study on the technical feasibility of the residential embedded generator connecting to the grid. The application may be approved in cases where the simplified connection criteria (as detailed in NRS 097-2-3) are met. The approval may be accompanied by applicable fees.  Applicable fees may be raised for meter costs, additional network strengthening, etc. A proforma invoice will be sent to you detailing the amount due and payment options. This will also serve as confirmation to connect to the grid, subject to the terms and conditions.

Your written approval to connect will be confirmed via the pro-forma invoice
 

Step 6

If the simplified connection criteria is not met, then a detailed network study will be required. To enable a detailed network study, eThekwini Municipality shall provide a standard design quotation to the applicant. 

On receipt of the requisite payment, a detailed network study will be conducted. Subsequently, the results of such a study will detail the terms and conditions under which the connection may commence. Additional fees may apply.

Make sure you submit your  Certificate of Compliance (CoC) to the Municipality

Step 7

On approval of the PV application, the installation and testing of the SSEG system shall be conducted and the installer shall issue a Certificate of Compliance to the applicant and the Municipality (Quote the relevant “E” number). The Municipality shall be informed of the completion of the SSEG installation.
 

Step 8

Download the “COMMISSIONING REPORT FOR EMBEDDED GENERATION” from here​​. 
 

Complete the “COMMISSIONING REPORT FOR EMBEDDED GENERATION” form in full. To download the guidelines to complete this form, click here​.  

This form must then be signed by a registered Pr. Eng. or Pr. Tech and emailed to residentialgeneration@elec.durban.gov.za. EThekwini Municipality may request to be present to witness the testing and commissioning. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved an interim tariff structure to allow for limited credits to be given in such instances where power is exported onto the grid. This has created a mechanism to promote small scale embedded generation at a local level. We are expecting a national framework to be finalized in the near future. The principles of which will override the current framework. The current processes and remuneration mechanism will be aligned accordingly where necessary.    

Note:

• Any modification to the system that deviates from the approved application shall undergo a new application process.
• Upon payment of the relevant fee (if any) and receipt of your signed commission form, the Municipality will trigger the process to have your meter retrofitted and tariff amended.
• Every connection to the grid must undergo an application and approval process irrespective if similar installations have been previously approved.
• Once your meter has been installed and tariff changed, the offsets between import and export energy will occur automatically via the account billing system as per the embedded generation tariff structure (Scale 15).
• All commissioning documentation as requested shall be submitted for record and filing purposes. Until the application is approved, the applicant shall not connect the PV system to the grid under any circumstances.
• The customer must allow Municipal staff access to the generation system for the purpose of compliance testing and monitoring.